Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is the most fatal of all mental disorders according to the NIMH. We all know that an intense fear of gaining weight characterizes anorexia nervosa, but people often misjudge anorexia to be a symptom of narcissism. This disease deserves special attention because of how mainstream and yet deeply misunderstood it is. Underlying trauma, stress, mental illness, low self-esteem, cultural pressure, or certain genetics can drive inner torment so severe that for some with AN, to eat even a morsel of food can become an excruciating experience. Get a look into the life of someone with AN by checking out the show “Don’t Call Me Crazy” on Netflix, which follows the daily life of a handful of teens suffering mental illness in a British mental hospital.

Derealization / Depersonalization DisorderPeople with this disorder persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that they're observing themselves from outside their body or have a sense that things around them aren't real, as if they’re living in a dream. The famous artist Yayoi Kusama suffers from this disorder.

DepressionPeople often mistake depression for sadness. During his TED talk about depression, Andrew Solomon expertly clarifies that “the opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality.” He recounts his descent into a depressive episode saying “I began to feel myself doing less, thinking less, and feeling less. It was a kind of nullity.” To learn more about depression, and also how it interacts with anxiety, check out his incredible TED talks and books -- "The Noonday Demon" in particular.

PyromaniaPyromaniacs are often misunderstood as arsonists. While arsonists maliciously set fire to properties, pyromaniacs instead need to set fires for personal satisfaction or to relieve stress.

Somatic Symptom DisorderSomatic Symptom Disorder is characterized by excessive focus on physical symptoms (i.e. pain or fatigue) and worst case scenario thinking about these symptoms. SSD causes major emotional distress and reduced functionality in daily life. Though often misunderstood as hypochondriacs, people with SSD aren’t faking their symptoms. The distress experienced from pain is real, no matter if a physical explanation can be found.

Anti-Social Personality Disorder (Sociopathy)Sociopaths get a bad rap because most of us know this disorder only from the context of heinous criminal cases. Contrary to the popular imagination, many sociopaths lead kind of normal lives. In essence, those with ASPD feel no regard for the feelings or rights of others. Though they can’t feel the difference between right and wrong, they are able learn and abide by societal and legal definitions of right and wrong, albeit only to avoid punishment or the relinquishment of their freedoms. A relationship with a sociopath would certainly be a trying one, but not necessarily a deadly one. If you want to learn more about ASPD from an actual sociopath, check out the book "Confessions of a Sociopath" by M.E. Thomas.